Our Mission

To enable entrepreneurs to build self-reliant communities.

Our intention as an organisation is to work towards being obsolete within 5 years of involvement with a community. This involves communities working towards their holistic definition of self-reliance and acting as change agents in their wider communities. 

Key facets of our 5 year project model include: 

Partnerships with rural communities, social organisations, government institutions, suppliers of sustainable technologies and investors to develop sustainable solutions to enable self-reliance.

A platform for community voice and leadership in order to understand the assets, aspirations, challenges and opportunities in each unique context. This in turns allows communities to develop and lead solutions that address their self-assessed social, economic and environmental challenges. Communities are required to develop a 5 year vision for their community which is reviewed annually. All projects in the community are thus informed and motivated by this inclusive vision (men, women and children).

Providing access to capital through community banking that entrepreneurs can utilise to grow businesses. Communities decide on the scale and scope of their banking facilities and the price they charge for loans.

Building Capacity across the skill gaps identified by the community. Leadership, Business Development, Permaculture and Social Entrepreneurship are key areas of focus.

Providing access to sustainable technologies. Our definition of sustainable technology encompasses technologies that have demonstrable social, economic and environmental impacts; are affordable, durable and easy to use. Our areas of focus for technology are energy and water access, agriculture, sanitation, communication and health. Technology is selected based on community identified need and is cost-recovered subsequent to an initial deposit.

* Some technology will be made available via open source agreements that enable the community manufacture/produce their own solutions. 

UN Millennium Development Goals

We contribute to the global sustainable development effort by addressing the 8 Millennium Development Goals. The extent of their focus and the goals achieved are hinged on each project's unique community-driven vision. 

Our Values and Ethics

An Asset-based approach 

We believe in focusing on existing assets (natural, social and financial) and the capacity of communities to achieve their aspirations as opposed to a focus on deficiencies and lacks. We feel that this is crucial in preserving dignity, fostering respect and appreciating what already exists. 

Enabling and not Rescuing 

In line with an asset-based approach to development, we view our role and that of our partner organisations as being one of facilitation. This stems from a deep belief in the inherent capacity of individuals to self-determine. Decades of well intentioned charity based solutions have come at the cost of disempowerment, a lack of true sustainability and a loss of human dignity. In our view, solutions to socio-economic poverty need to come from within and our role is to elicit and enable viable solutions.

We as an organisation subscribe to the ethics of permaculture:

Earth Care - Respecting our environment and nurturing natural systems. 

People Care - A commitment to equality, enabling self-reliance, valuing community and the power of collaboration.

Fair Share - Sharing knowledge and surpluses with those in need.